Red Sox Minor Lines: Bryan Mata keeps impressing

Pawtucket W 3-2

Tzu-Wei Lin: 0-4

Rusney Castillo: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R

Bryce Brentz: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Steve Selsky: 0-3, 2 K

Brian Johnson: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K

Chandler Shepherd: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K

It was a weirdly inefficient night for Johnson, as he couldn’t find the strike zone and threw 76 pitches in just four innings of work. In fact, it wouldn’t be unfair to call this outing downright Owens-esque. That said, it’s certainly not much of anything to worry about. This stuff happens, and it’s a relief to know he was just pulled for having an off-night, not because of an injury of any sort. On offense, it was more of the same with Brentz going deep and Selsky going o-fer. Guess which one’s on the 40-man.

Portland W 4-0

Danny Mars: 1-5, 1 K

Michael Chavis: 1-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K

Josh Ockimey: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 K

Josh Tobias: 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 K

Dedgar Jimenez: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Ty Buttrey: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

I have no idea what to think of Jimenez, who all the scouting reports agree isn’t all that great but he’s done nothing but put zeros on the board all year. This was easily his best start since being promoted to Portland, and one would assume he’ll start next year here as well. If he keeps pitching like this, though, he’ll be in Pawtucket sooner than later in 2018. On offense, another solid day for the Chavis/Ockimey attack.

Salem L 6-7 (F/10)

Tate Matheny: 2-5, 1 3B, 2 R, 1 RBI

Austin Rei: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Greenville W 3-2 (F/16)

Tyler Hill: 0-5, 1 BB

Roldani Baldwin: 0-7, 2 K

Bobby Dalbec: 2-6, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Bryan Mata: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Tucker Tubbs: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Some interesting notes in this game. For one, it was another very solid outing from Mata. I have a feeling his hype is going to go a little too far for my liking this winter, but it’s hard to blame people for getting excited. It’s been a really impressive full-season debut for the 18-year-old. Meanwhile, it was a rough day for the lineup by Dalbec showed off his power for the walk-off dinger in the 16th. It’s been an inconsistent year for last year’s breakout prospect, but Dalbec still has that power. Finally, Tubbs took the mound for three impressive innings, which is even more impressive when you remember he is a first baseman. He’s actually made four appearances with 10 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings, eight strikeouts and just one walk. Perhaps a backup plan for his career is being discovered?

Lowell L 5-8

Michael Osinski: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Yoan Aybar: 1-5, 1 RBI, 2 K

Zach Sterry: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

GCL Red Sox L 2-3

Cole Brannen: 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K

Blake Swihart (1B): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K

Pedro Castellanos: 0-4, 1 K

DSL Red Sox W 7-6 (F/13)

Freiberg Marin: 3-6, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Ivan Houllemont: 3-6, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 K